Reunited

One Love

I ran down the alleyway, tears stinging my eyes and streaming down my puffed cheeks like there was no tomorrow. I felt my lungs collapsing and my breathing became a struggle, I reached in my pocket for my inhaler and I took a puff from it. Curse my asthma, it always makes my life 10 times harder than it already is. I'm Emma by the way, Emma Newborn. You're probably wondering why am I running? Well you see my father beat me again for what the fifth time this week? I've lost count by now, it's happening too much.

I walked down to the small cafe with the florescent lights which read "open". I opened the door and heard the bell chime above my head. The warm air felt good against my shivering body. The windows fogged from the difference between the 80 degree weather in here and 20 degrees outside. I slowly walk towards the back of the cafe, where the comfy leather booth waits for me. I pass all the regular people that I see every time I come here, which is every other night. I only come here after my father has beaten me.. so as you can tell it's a lot. I slipped into the booth, feeling the cold cushion dip down when I sat on it.

The petite waitress came over to me and asked me for my order. Her long curly blond hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall of sunshine. Wait why did I just say that? Oh yeah, cause I'm too damn insecure. She was so perfect compared to me her waist was so thin, her thighs had a gap in between them and her skin tone was a perfect shade of tan. I snapped out of my trance and I spoke in a hushed voice, "I'll have a coffee please." She nods and walks away her hips swaying in a perfect motion. I looked down at my body, my stomach rounded and sticking out, my thighs had no gap in between, my red hair was thin and too straight, and I was so pale you could mistake me for a white crayon.

The waitress came over and handed me my coffee, I thanked her and took a sip of the warm liquid. It slid down my throat automatically warming my insides. I set it down and heard my phone beep indicating I had a text message. I pulled out my smart phone and I opened the message. My best friend Niall had sent me a text saying "Hey, haven't talked in a while but I'm back from touring and I was wondering if we could get coffee? xx" I sighed and I shook my head. Niall and I had been best friends since kindergarten but since he went on the X-Factor and became a famous singer things changed. The fame took away our friendship, when he'd come over and watch movies when I was on my period, hold me when I went through a break up, drive me around everywhere I wanted, protect me from the guys who broke my heart, he was basically the older brother I never had. Since he became an international pop-star and toured the world with his 4 best mates we haven't been that close. I took in a deep breath and I texted back "At the old cafe now, come bye whenever you want I'll be here for awhile." I sighed and slipped my phone back into my pocket.

I looked out the foggy window thinking about all the things that have been going on lately. Then I saw the bright flash of headlights and a car engine stop. I see a blond head jump out of the black small Audi and walk to the front of the cafe. I heard the faint chime of the brass bell and sit up straight, I straighten out my clothes and put on a fake smile. Don't get me wrong I was happy to see him, I haven't seen him in at least a year but I just wasn't ready to talk about everything with him. I stood up and he approached me slowly, I could smell his scent of mint and a little bit of alcohol. He engulfed me in one of his famous "Horan hugs" and snuggled his head in the crook of my over sized neck. I was always a little worried that one time he'd hug me and feel how fat I was and just run away and never come back. Niall pulled away and looked at me, he smiled and I could see white metal across his once crooked smile. "Hey.." I whispered.

"Hey, Emma you look gorgeous." He said in his thick Irish accent and I felt the heat rise to my cheeks. I know he was my best friend but I couldn't remember the last time a guy has complimented me about anything. "Thank you Niall, you don't look to bad yourself.." I giggled and we looked into each others eyes for a while then sat down.

"So how's touring?" I asked him sweetly, playing with my coffee cup. "It's been spectacular, the whole thing really I can't believe that a year ago I was just a regular lad from Mullingar. You know? I'm so grateful for all of it; most teenage guys can't say that they're on an international tour with their four best lads. I love the rush of being on stage, how the crowd erupts in cheers just to see you live and they sing along to the songs they know. Sure they're are things that stink not seeing family or friends as much as I'd like too, you do get hate, and you may just feel overwhelmed by it all, but at the end of the day I don't regret one thing. But how have you been?" He looks at me like a glowing angel, his blond hair shinning dimly in the cafe lights. I open my lips to respond but before I do the flirty waitress comes over to ask Niall what he wants. She sticks out her bony hip, smiling and showing her perfect, straight, white teeth to Niall. "I'll have some tea please." She nods and winks, walking with a sway of her hips in each step, trying to catch Niall's attention but he rolls his eyes at her and I chuckle.

"So Emma, what's been going on lately? Family good?" He asks innocently, I bite my bottom lip debating whether or not to tell him whats really going on. I part my lips and let out a long breath. "Well you see..-" "Oi! There you are Nialler!" I get interrupted and look at the front to see four guys in their coats and long jeans. One has big bushy hair, his eyes a perfect shade of emerald green, and his smile is slightly lopsided but they bring out the most amazing dimples I have ever seen. Another one has hair that looks at least 5 inches tall, it's jet black with one blond streak flipping upwards in the front, his skin tone is a nice olive color and his body is covered in beautiful tattoos. The next lad had a buzz cut, his eyes a nice warm chocolate color, his body tone fit looking, like he was a famous athlete or something. The last one had on tight fitting red pants, suspenders attached going over his broad shoulders, his shirt blue and white strips and his feet cozy in a nice pair of blue toms. The four boys came over to Niall and I, I looked down at my now cold coffee and bit my lip.

Niall stood up and three of the four unfamiliar boys squeezed into one side of the booth and Niall squeezed in next to me with the curly haired boy. "Emma this is Harry-" Niall points to the curly haired boy. "-Liam-" he points to the boy with the serious but friendly face. "-Louis-" He points to the boy in suspenders. "-and Zayn." He points to the boy with the black earrings. "Hi.." I say softly and the perky waitress comes over, grinning happily to see that four new boys came. Harry sat up and grinned cheekily, his dimples showing obviously. "Well hello there, what's your name love?" He grins and lifts his eyebrow, she responds seductively, "I'm Breana." She grins, flashing her pearly whites. "So what can I get the rest of you?" Zayn looks up and smirks, "I'll have a coffee please." He said, his British accent thick and husky. The cheery boy in stripes piped up in a higher voice than I expected, "I'll have a cup of tea please." she nods and turns to Liam who shakes his head, "I'm fine thank you." he smiles and she nods, turning to Harry who is grinning like a mad man. "I'll have a cup of coffee and possibly your number?" He winks at her and she giggles loudly.

I look up and see her scribble down the orders and her number, she slips it into his hand and winks at him. "Excuse me? Um.. could I get some hot chocolate with whipped cream? My coffee has gone cold." I feel all eyes on me and I scratch the back of my head. She sneers at me and rolls her eyes, "Do you think you seriously should have that whipped cream? It will go straight to your meaty thighs." I nod, "You're right, sorry." I look down at my thighs and feel tears threatening to spill over. Niall see's my frown and stands up, "Did you seriously have to say that to her? What did she do to you? You don't know her, you don't know what she's been through. Back off." She rolls her eyes at him. "Why would you be defending her? She's so ugly! and-" Louis jumps into the conversation, "You think she's ugly, she's beautiful maybe you should take off the mask, didn't you hear? Halloween is over." I can't help but smile at Louis sticking up for me, Niall takes my hand and pulls me out of the cafe with him.

I can hear the faint noises of the other lads shoes against the shiny tile. Niall brings me into the cool air and I shivered from the strong wind that blew on my pale face after stepping out of the warm cafe air. Niall saw me shiver and wrapped his jacket around me, I looked up at him and smiled widely. "Thank you, Niall not just for the jacket for everything tonight." Niall looks at me with a smile that could send girls into shock. "Emma, I'd do anything for you. You know that, you are practically my sister and I want you to know how beautiful you are. Inside and out." I feel the heat rise to my puffy cheeks from the crying and I hug him tightly. "I love you so much, Emma." I smile widely, the first true smile I have had since a year ago. "I love you too Niall." He kissed my cheek and held my hand. "Come on sis, let's go to the boys and my flat."